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Four Accused in Hernando Pawn Shop Burglary

Elijah Pickard | Hernando Sheriff | Arrests

The mother of one suspect turned him in. The others were captured after a chase. Hernando sheriff’s deputies are searching for a fifth suspect.

HERNANDO COUNTY – Sheriff’s deputies have accused four boys of stealing a car and driving from Orlando to Spring Hill to commit the pawn shop burlgary.

Elijah Pickard, 19, of Orlando, was charged with one count each of grand theft auto, resisting arrest without violence, fleeing and eluding, possession of burglary tools, and burglary to a structure. The burglary charge has enhancements of crossing county lines to commit a burglary and wearing a mask during the commission of a burglary.

Deputies said Pickard’s mother, Christina, turned her son in. They said Elijah admitted his involvement in the case.

The other three who were arrested are juveniles and are not being identified by name.

One of the boys, aged 12, is charged with one count each of grand theft auto, resisting arrest without violence, and burglary to a structure with the enhancements of crossing county lines to commit a burglary and wearing a mask during the commission of a burglary.

A second juvenile, aged 15, was charged with one count each of grand theft auto, burglary to a dwelling while occupied, resisting arrest without violence, fleeing and eluding, possession of burglary tools, and burglary to a structure with the enhancements of crossing county lines to commit a burglary and wearing a mask during the commission of a burglary.

The third juvenile, aged 16, was charged with one count each of grand theft auto, resisting arrest without violence, and burglary to a structure with the enhancement of crossing county lines to commit a burglary. Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies said he was listed by the Orlando Police Department as a missing juvenile. He also had two pickup orders from Orange County for charges of burglary and battery, deputies said.

All three suspects admitted that they had traveled to Spring Hill from Orlando to commit the burglary at the Gold-N-Pawnd II store, 5224 Mariner Blvd., in Spring Hill, deputies said. They also admitted the driver of the car they were in fled from deputies during attempted traffic stops.

All three juveniles were taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Ocala.

Deputies said they are searching for another juvenile in connection with this case.

The case began about 4 a.m. Monday (June 19) when a commercial alarm went off at the Gold-N-Pawnd II. When deputies arrived, they found the glass in the front door of the business had been broken out.

While responding to the call, Hernando sheriff’s Sgt, William Hillman saw a dark-colored car leaving the area of the business. The driver was travelling at a high rate of speed. Hillman was unable to catch up to the car and did not pursue it.

The car, a Hyundai Sonata, was then spotted traveling west on Northcliffe Boulevard by Deputy Tom Cameron. Cameron tried to stop it but the driver fled at a high rate of speed and turned north on Deltona, deputies said. The Sonata’s driver continued to flee and turned east onto Cortez Boulevard. Cameron stopped chasing.

A short time later, Deputy Victor Latty saw the Sonata traveling east on Cortez Boulevard at Barclay Avenue. Deputies said the driver failed to stop at the red light and continued eastbound. The driver then turned southbound onto the Suncoast Parkway.Latty said he also attempted a traffic stop but the driver fled. Latty also stopped chasing the car.

Latty was headed south on the Suncoast Parkway when he said he saw smoke and what appeared to be a crash. The Sonata had been in a single-vehicle crash on the side of the road.

As Latty approached the crash site, he said he saw four boys running from the car. Latty again turned on his emergency lights and ordered them to stop. All four continued running away.

During the next several hours numerous patrol deputies, two sheriff’s K-9 units, aviation, and two additional K-9 teams (one from the Florida Department of Corrections and one from the Sumter Correctional Institute) searched the area of Pristine Place, Hibiscus Springs Apts. and surrounding neighborhoods for the suspects.

Deputy Brandon Cox and K-9 Judge located one suspect on Dow Lane. Cpl. Steve Miller and K-9 Justice caught one suspect at the south end of Catfish Lane (Hibiscus Springs Apts.). Sgt. Scott Reak caught the third suspect at Barclay Avenue and Powell Road. At least one additional suspect eluded deputies. After a five-hour search, deputies said, they were unable to locate him.

Deputies said they contacted the Sonata’s owner, who is from the Orlando area. The owner did not know the vehicle had been taken and subsequently reported it stolen.

During the search for the suspects, deputies said they learned that one of them had entered the garage area of a residence on Carlisle Drive in Pristine Place to elude law enforcement. The homeowner was at home at the time and saw the suspect inside his garage. The homeowner was able to provide deputies with a detailed description.

During this time, deputies on scene at the Gold-N-Pawnd discovered that the suspects broke the glass on the door but were unable to get inside because of the burglar bars on the doors. Deputies said that meant they were unable to steal guns or money, which they told deputies were the targeted items.

Deputies said they received a call Tuesday (June 20) from Christina Pickard who said that her son, Elijah, admitted to her that he had been involved in the case. Pickard told deputies she would bring her son to Hernando County to turn himself in.

For information about the Hernando sheriff, go to hernandosheriff.org.

Photo shows Elijah Pickard.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Burglary | Arrests | Pawn Shop | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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